What Time Do You Send Your Kids to Sleep?
By hibiscus_mel
@hibiscus_mel (719)
United States
January 19, 2009 6:39pm CST
Early to bed early to rise. When there is class I send my kids to sleep at 7:30. Kids need to take long hours of sleep to be able to have enough energy for the rest of the day to survive school. I actually read stories with them at 7:30 so more or less they are tuck in bed just before 8. They throw away fits in the morning when I wake them up if they don't have enough sleep but they wake up by themselves if they sleep early. How about you? Do you send your kids to sleep early?
2 people like this
14 responses
@shanelli (20)
• Philippines
20 Jan 09
this is my problem for one year now...my son sleeps at 12 midnight, at times even 12:30 or 1am...and he wakes up at 8am or 9am...and he sleeps again at 2pm - 4pm... he's 2 years and six months old...and very active...he keeps on moving and running. he never stops...even when he's watching barney videos, he dances with the characters...i tried not to let him sleep in the afternoon (one thing my husband strongly oppose coz he believes kids grow fast when they sleep) i kept him busy all day and let him sleep at 7pm...to my annoyance, he woke up at 10pm and started playing and running again and finally slept at 1am...i dont know what to do now...i am a working mom and i sleep at 12:30 almost everyday...any suggestions sisses?
1 person likes this
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Kids sleeping pattern changes as they come of age. It is natural for kids this age to be restless because they want to discover their environment and they don't know how to use their energy yet. It is better to let him take a nap in the afternoon than in the early evening. The kind of food you give him also triggers to his becoming restless. Too much sweets and/or carbohydrates gives him more energy so avoid giving it to him at night time nor early evening.;-)
@kayla_7602 (704)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
I also send my son to sleep at 7:30 when there is school the next day I have the the same thing happen, if he goes to sleep late he dosnt want to wake up and is grumpy all day lot, but when i send him to bed at 7:30 he wakes up in time and is happy and ready to go. Although he does get to listen to watch his tv in his room until 8:30 because he really needs the wind down time, or listen to his music, but usally he is sleeping by 8 and I go in and turn off his movie. I find he does better in school, and he goes to bed easier when everynight is the same routine he expects it therfor accepts it and doesnt argue so it works great!
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Yes, it helps a lot to send kids to sleep ealry so they won't feel grumpy and make excuses the next day. Giving them wind down time is important so they will feel at ease and relax iwhen they go to sleep. It's a good thing when we lay down the rules and they are able to follow it. It sure does makes everybody happy.
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
20 Jan 09
My kids all go to bed at 9:00pm every night except the weekends. I make sure they have enough sleep so I can get them up at 7:00am for school. I know the feel all to well about cranky kids when they don't get enough sleep. I feel bad for them and then get cranky myself. On the weekends I let them stay up as late as they want. They usually sleep in for a while which gives me a little bit of coffee in me to start the day.
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
21 Jan 09
As long as the kids can take or adjust with their time pattern I think it is fine. My kids are younger and they do need more sleep. I hate kids getting cranky in the morning.;-)
@bhag570 (109)
• India
20 Jan 09
HI!
I feel, now a days, days are bigger and nights are smaller. I felt, televisions and internet are dictating our sleeping pattern. My child sleeps, after watching his favorite dance and music show at 11pm and wakes up at 6 in the morning.
Actually this is bad. I feel,Children should sleep before 9 pm.They require good sleep at night, otherwise, they may not be active at day time.
also, i feel strongly, let'm sleep peacefully. do not let them watch programs that disturbs their peace of mind, like horror movies, fighting movies etc.
sleeping early is not that important to me. but sleep peacefully is more important.
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Yes, it doesn't sound good that your kid is sleeping late and waking up early. It can greatly affect their studies later on. They do always need good sleep. I agree with you that we should keep them away from watching movies that are violent or horrific. It creates an impression in their brain that gives them bad dreams.
@bookreadermom08 (5614)
• United States
20 Jan 09
We have tried, but even if we get our son in bed by 8:30 he will still talk and sing and practically do summersaults in bed til almost 9:30... he is a night owl already and he is 5... LOL
I wish I could get him to sleep earlier, but it is hard as he has always been a night child... and he has always been up by 7 am....until this year of course when he started school and wants to sleep til 9, when school starts at 8:30...LOL!!
@kayla_7602 (704)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
I had the same problem with my son I really did. So thats why i started a routine of going to bed at 7:30 with a movie, see he thought it was cool because he got a movie and him gave him time to settle down at first he would be up after the movie was over and it would be a short fight to tell him that no now it was bedtime. After a week or so he got use to it and didnt argue with it anymore, but would always still come tell me it was over and ask if he could have another one i would say no he would expect i would say know and off to bed he would go sleeping in minutes, and now he falls asleep before the movie is even over it is great no more fighting with him about it no more crying nothing it's now a happy time for both of us with smiles and kisses lol.
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Hi bookdreamermom08. Kids sleeping pattern changes as he grows up. I suggest to give him time to settle down before going to sleep. My kids had those moments of not sleeping early but since I have been spending time reading with them they became relaxed and were able to adjust with sleepng time. Now I don't have to demand them to go to sleep or wake up early.;-)
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Hi Kayla,
It feels great seeing our kids able to adjust sleeping patterns. This way becomes a win-win situation. Hopefully they will be able to do that as they grow older. ;-)
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I do believe disciplining them at young age is far easier than when they are older. You just can't easily bend a stiff and mature branch so they say.;-)
@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
20 Jan 09
I do not have kids now, but I thought 9pm or 10pm is good time to send them to sleep. To me, 7:30pm seems to be quite early, perhaps I have just finished my dinner at that time, or just start to have dinner. I know it's a good habit to sleep early, but I actually do not know what time is suitable for kids to go to bed, as I always sleep late. When I have kids, I gotta go to bed also when I ask my kids to sleep, gotta set a good example. 
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Lucky for you you don't have kids yet. You will know and learn it from your experience later when you will have your own kids. My son likes to extend his sleep in the morning when he sleeps late that is why I send both of them to sleep earlier.I have a lot of things to do at home so basically I cannot sleep early. I am grateful at least they follow house rules.;-)
@aidenofthetower (1814)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Our son is only 2 so school doesn't affect what time we put him to bed. We try to keep him up till 8:30 so he won't get up quite so early. He is a morning person and will wake up really early if put to bed at 7:30 (sometimes as early as 5:30 am!). We prefer to sleep in. I would love it if he would sleep past 7, but it doesn't happen often. If my husband didn't get up so early, we would probably keep Marcus up later! As it is, we don't get a ton of time together.
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Yes, that's how it works with younger kids. It's a good thing he is not in school yet. There is no need of hurrying up.;-)
@nixxi76 (3191)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
My son's bedtime is at 8pm. At ten to eight he has to go get his pajamas on then brush his teeth. I feel this is a good sleep for him. He falls asleep pretty quick and gets up on his own in the morning, gets dressed on his own (if I lay out clothes the night before) and brushes his teeth before he's off to school. He's usually up at around quarter to eight or earlier. On fridays and saturdays we allow him to stay up until 9pm if he wants to then sunday nights it's back to 8 pm.
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
20 Jan 09
my son who is 8 goes to bed at 9 and gets up at about 7:15. he is a really good sleeper and falls right to sleep and never gives me any problem. i allow him to stay up a bit later on weekends and school breaks and he really enjoys that. he has never had any problems with sleeping but getting up seems to be getting a bit harder these days.
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I do also let my kids sleep late on weekends. With the cold outside and the comfort of bed waking up is a little bit difficult that's one reason I send them earlier.
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
20 Jan 09
My daughter goes to bed at 9:00. She is 10 and 1/2. She generally needs about 11 hours of sleep. My son is 14 and generally gets to bed at 10:00 but sometimes is allowed to stay up until 11:00 if a special TV show is on. I try to stick to these times on the weekends too so their schedule is not all goofed up. I say "try". It doesn't always work that way!
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
20 Jan 09
When kids grow older they tend to do things on their own way. I do hope my kids sticks to their sleping pattern but we'll never know. As long as they can wake up on time and not be late for school. I think that will be fine.;-)
@lisa0502 (1724)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
On school nights my younger two kids go to bed at 8:30, the older two kids go to bed at 10:00. On non school nights they get to stay up until about 11:00 or midnight. I never seem to have a problem getting them up but that might be because they are told that if they put up a fuss in the morning then they will go to bed early the next night.
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
20 Jan 09
It's a good thing you told them what happens when they get grumpy when they wake up in the morning. This way they will be aware of the consequences. Yes, giving them time to sleep later on weekends gives them a chance to play more at home. I do this too.
@Autumnrose2008 (1478)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I try to put my daughter to bed at 8:00 pm every night but sometimes life happens and we are a little bit late. She does get enough sleep as she wakes her self up every morning at the same time with no clock. I figure if she was not getting enough sleep then she would want to continue sleeping. She is happy and full of energy when she goes to school each day.
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I do believe your daughter has adjusted well with school life and sleeping pattern. As long as she don't get grumpy early in the morning, sleeping at 8PM will still be fine.;-)
@bamrahkirti (1821)
• India
20 Jan 09
My son has just turned 1 year old on this 19th and he does not have a very fixed routine of sleeping.If he sleeps more during the day time then it is less likely that he will sleep early during night time and keeps playing with his toys and crawling here and there till he gets tired and retire to bed at around 11.00 to 11.30 pm but if he has not slept sufficiently during the day then he will sleep around 10.00 pm.
@hibiscus_mel (719)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Yes, at that age they are still adjusting with their sleeping pattern.
